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May, 2013
1st Responder Newspaper - NJ
Garfield blaze destroys townhouse under construction A fire burned through a row of condos still under construction at a Garfield apartment complex early morning hours of March 19th. At 4:52am firefighters were dispatched for a working fire at 950 River Dr. arriving police officers confirmed a working fire with fire show- JUMP TO FILE # ing on the top floor 031913115 of a unit of condos under construction. Heavy fire was already venting through the roof on arrival of chief John Kopacz. Firefighters had limited access the scene because of the location with it being in the unfinished area complex. Engine 2 under Capt James Kovacs direction arrived first due and began to stretch lines as chief's decided to make this a defensive attack. Due to a very limited access driveway and road no apparatus was positioned in front of the building in fear of collapse. All apparatus was staged in a drive way which made operations difficult. During the initial stages of the attack of the fire large propane tanks used to supply heaters to dry wet dry wall t were in front of each unit and had to be protected by lines. During operations water supply issues arose calling for mutual aid engines from Saddle Brook and Elmwood Park to the scene. An additional tower ladder from Saddle Brook was called to the scene but could not operate because of the location of the building. The fire ground was difficult to navigate due to a earlier snow storm and unpaved roads. As additional water supply was established companies began operating with numerous outside lines several ground monitors and truck 4's ladder pipe. A total of 7 out of 12 units were destroyed or
UPS AND DOWNS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
UPS: North Plainfield firefighters set a new record shaving heads to benefit cancer research for kids in their 10th annual St. Baldrick's event. A total of 163 heads were shaved and they raised more than $107,000, March 23rd, for the St. Baldrick's Foundation for Children's Cancer Research. DOWNS: A three alarm fire raced through five row houses on West Side Avenue in Perth Amboy, March 29th, displacing 45 people.UPS: An Assistance to Firefighters Grant of $193,500 has been awarded to the Garfield Fire Department. Funds will go to the purchase of 43 SCBA and other equipment. DOWNS: Jeffrey Scheuefer, 35, a Readington volunteer firefighter and a member of the New Jersey State Forest Fire Service, died on March 28th from injuries after being struck by a car on Route 629 while participating in a controlled burn near Round Valley Reservoir, said Hunterdon County Prosecutor
Anthony Kearns. “According to our preliminary investigation, it appears that a heavy smoke condition associated with the controlled burn was present at the time of the crash may have caused reduced visibility when a shift in the wind occurred,” said Kearns. UPS: The Skyline Lake Volunteer Fire Company in Ringwood has been awarded $25,698 in AFG funds for operations and safety. DOWNS: An early morning fire destroyed a Park Street home in Hackensack and severely damaged another, displacing four families on March 17th. The homeowners, asleep on the first floor of the dwelling when the fire started, roused the second floor tenants and they all escaped, officials said. Police received the initial call as a fight. The house where the fire originated did not have a working smoke detector, according to Lt. Justin Dereuyanik, the P.I.O. The Hackensack Fire Department has a program that provides free smoke detectors to residents who cannot afford them, he said.
DAMIEN DANIS
damaged by the blaze. Almost three hours the fire was declared under control by chief of dept John Kopacz. Mutual aid from Saddle Brook, Elmwood Park, Lodi and Maywood covered the city. Box-54 also responded to the scene . A call also was made to the Bergen county
Arson Squad. The building would eventually be raised because of its conditions. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Special thank you to Garfield chief of dept John Kopacz with assistance in this article. - DAMIEN DANIS
BILL TOMPKINS
RON JEFFERS